FBI Director Kash Patel is facing intense criticism for participating in a light-hearted podcast interview with his girlfriend while a manhunt for the suspected Brown University shooter entered its fourth day.
Timing of Interview Sparks Public Outrage
The controversy erupted after a teaser clip from conservative podcaster Katie Miller's show went viral. In the clip, Miller questions Patel and his girlfriend, country music star Alexis Wilkins, about their relationship, asking Wilkins to confirm she is not a Mossad agent and joking about the absence of an engagement ring.
A representative for Miller's podcast stated the interview was filmed before the mass shooting on Saturday. However, the promotional release coincided with the ongoing search for the gunman, drawing fury from politicians and social media users alike.
Commentators online labelled Patel a 'bumbling bonehead', with one X user stating: 'Patel, when he's not detaining the wrong shooter, is busy doing podcast appearances with the girlfriend he deploys FBI resources and private jets for.'
Investigation Missteps Compound the Scrutiny
The backlash against Patel is compounded by significant missteps in the investigation into the shooting at the Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island.
The attack occurred around 4pm on Saturday during a review session for an economics exam. It resulted in the deaths of two students: Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore and vice-president of the university's Republican club, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old aspiring neurosurgeon. Nine other students were injured.
Authorities faced embarrassment after wrongfully detaining a 24-year-old Army sniper, whose name and photo were leaked to the press. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha confirmed the error on Sunday.
Patel himself had prematurely announced that FBI agents helped apprehend a suspect, a claim he has been forced to walk back. A $50,000 reward is now on offer for information leading to an arrest, with new surveillance footage of the killer released on Monday.
Political Figures Join the Condemnation
The criticism has extended beyond social media into the political arena. California Governor Gavin Newsom took aim at Patel, stating: 'There's a mass shooter still on the loose while Keystone Kash's defunded FBI can't catch him. But good to know he's got time to hop on a taxpayer-funded private jet to record a podcast with his girlfriend.'
This incident places Patel, who has been dating Wilkins since January 2023, under a harsh spotlight. Critics accuse him of repeating a pattern of premature announcements and misplaced priorities during a major crisis, as the search for the armed and dangerous suspect continues.
